Neither the Sharks under 19 nor the under 21 side managed to pull off victory against the visiting Free Staters at Kings Park on Friday afternoon, an ultimately rather disappointing result given the rncouraging signs over the fortnight of away matches that started their seasons.
Paul Anthony’s under 19 side put in the better performance this time, with a gutsy fightback earning them a share of the spoils in a 17-all draw. Outside centre Tristan Blewett scored a first-half try, with namesake Tedder converting to hand his team a 2-point advantage (Free State having scored an uncoverted try early on). A soft moment before half time saw the visitors score again, though, with their third after the break suddenly pushing the scoreline out to 17-7 in their favour. Replacement lock Christiaan van der Merwe scored a late try for the Sharks, which together with a penalty and conversion form replacement scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries allowed the Sharks to draw level ahead of the final whistle.
With just three log points from as many games, Anthony’s charges are 6th on the under 19 log and will need a big win over the Leopards this weekend to start making up some of that ground.
Cell C Sharks 17 (7). Tries: Christiaan van der Merwe, Tristan Blewett. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries, Tristan Tedder. Penalty: Juries.
Toyota Free State 17 (12). Tries: Carlo De Nysschen, Tiaan Schmulian, De Wet Bezuidenhout. Conversion: De Nysschen
If the under 19 result was encouraging in some ways, the under 21s were just plain disappointing. Having done superbly to earn 5 log points from their two toughest away games, Michael Horak’s team succumbed to an unexpected 15-27 reversal in their first home game. In a game where the Sharks pack simply never got on top of their Free State counterparts, it was the visitors who scored early – and scored often – in the opening period. A try minutes after the game started was followed by two others in the first half and the Sharks were 0-21 down before you could blink. Inny Radebe managed a lone penalty late in the half, but with Free State counterpart Andre Swarts adding two of his own, it was the visitors who extended their lead, going into half time with a commanding 27-3 advantage.
As the rain came down in the second period, it was the Sharks who dominated the scoring, but not even Radebe and Hyron Andrews’ pair of tries could put enough of a dent in the Free State lead to ensure even a bonus point for their side. Back to the drawing board, in other words, for the 5th placed Sharks under 21 side.
Cell C Sharks 15 (3). Tries: Inny-Christian Radebe, Hyron Andrews. Conversion: Radebe. Penalty: Radebe
Toyota Free State 27 (27). Tries: Jasper Wiese, Daniel Maartens (2). Conversions: Andre Swarts (3). Penalties: Swarts (2).
Tweet
Looks like same old story for the Junior sides. And just as the boks- encouraging performances mean nothing if u cant win! u19s havnt won a game and u21s only 1. Yes they played tough teams but so what? Unless we ranking ourselves with the likes of Ep and the Valke now. Worrying times…and for those calling for us to play the youngsters in Super rugby- thats why we didnt.
Regtig – ek begin groot ? Tekens oor die afrigting plaas.
After the encouraging start to the season, that IS a disappointment, especially for the u21s…
@Leon Schrenk (Comment 2) : we need to look at 2 factors.
1) under 19s. Shocking decision to appoint Butch James as head of procurement last year. He did not manage to contract enough quality to give even an experienced under 19 coach like Anthony enough to work with.
2) under 21s. last-minute reshuffle meant a new coach (Horak) just two weeks before the competition kicked off.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : To sum it up – Sharks rugby is in a fucking shambles.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Is Butch still involved?
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 5) :
I am not sure there is a better way to describe it.
Well said!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 6) : nope
@robdylan – Wel ek weet nie hoe nie maar ‘n plan moet gemaak word of die Sharks is binne ‘n jaar of so waar die Kings is of nog slegte – en Mnr. J. Smith sal ook maar pa-staan na alles is hy die man wat begin het met goeie mense laatgaan – die ding het die gewoonte om terug tekom en jou te byt – maar ek sal altyd ‘n Shark wees!!!!!!!!!!
Pray do tell why the u21 loss was unexpected? The Cheetahs lost narrowly to the Lions, who took the Bulls apart 55 – 15. Same Bulls that beat the Sharks by a solitary point.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : who is leading the scouting and acquisitions now? Any confirmation if Curwin Bosch and a few others from Craven Week secured?
@Kabouter (Comment 11) : Jacques Botes.
And no, no official confirmation on Bosch yet.
Hi All, I am new to this site and thought I might make the doom and gloom a bit better. As far as the u21’s go, it is not all bad. The one thing I have an issue about, is that a successful team was changed during the week leading up to a big game against the cheetahs. Radede, Maritz, Louw – these playes have all been injured and although great playes, I feel they should have been made to bench and then come on in the second half. To me, you never drop players when they are playing well. The so called stars should have to prove themselves when coming back from injury. Second to this, this side was missing D Du Preez and Thomas Du Toit, which we all know are players you going to miss. I feel this side will bounce back nicely on the weekend and hopefully, go from strength to strength during the season
W A N T E D!
A new hobby to get passionate about….our rugby stinks (local and international), our cricket stinks, and even if our soccer didn’t stink I still wouldn’t consider it.
Where can I find some white-knuckle Jukskei footage? 😆
@Vonno13 (Comment 13) : Welcome!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) :
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) : Chin up…it’s not that bad…
@pastorshark (Comment 17) : My taste for rugby is waning…now to get my wife to agree to an XBox 😈
I actually think I get more enjoyment out of talking about the rugby (and the community that goes with it), than the actual rugby itself 😐
@FireTheLooser (Comment 18) : I hear you…and x-box definitely has to top the jukskei option?
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : Geez EP topping the u19 log at the moment, a little respect please
@FireTheLooser (Comment 18) : Go for the Xbox, definitely.
@Ben (Comment 21) : And when the Sharks win Super Rugby you can sit back, let the feeling sink in and then turn off the Xbox. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 22) :
@robdylan (Comment 4) : I wonder how good a Horak coached team is on defence
@Ludz (Comment 24) : Let’s not go there. 🙄